Dwayne Johnson has defended Disney's live-action remake of Moana after it received poor reviews and underwhelmed at the box office, saying negative critical reception is "just the way it goes" in the entertainment industry. Speaking to People, the actor, who voices demigod Maui, said what mattered most was that "the culture really stood up" for the Polynesian-inspired story, and that he remained proud of the film regardless of the mixed response.

The film, directed by Thomas Kail, currently holds a 32% score on Rotten Tomatoes and has grossed $266 million globally since its July 2026 premiere, falling short of expectations. Disney CEO Josh D'Amaro has since acknowledged the shortfall to shareholders, grouping it with The Mandalorian and Grogu as films that missed box office targets, while noting Moana is expected to perform strongly on Disney+ given the original animated film's streaming popularity.